NTSB Factual Report

On June 10, 2005, about 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N1126U, impacted the tail section of another Cessna 172S, N587SP, with its right wing tip while taxiing to the runway at McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ), Carlsbad, California. Pinnacle Aviation Academy, Inc., was operating both airplanes under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot (sole occupant) of N1126U was not injured, and the student pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) on board N587SP were not injured. N1126U sustained minor damage and N587SP sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilots of both airplanes submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The pilot of N1126U taxied to the run up area and completed the run up. He called the control tower for a right closed traffic, touch-and-go clearance but due to other aircraft priorities, the tower could not give him clearance for about 10 minutes. When the tower cleared him for takeoff, he had to taxi between a jet and N587SP. While taxiing, the right wing tip of N1126U hit the tail section of N587SP. The impact bent the rudder and buckled the vertical stabilizer of N587SP. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions up to the time of the collision.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain separation while taxiing, which resulted in a collision with another airplane.